DMK patriarch M Karunanidhi and CPM veteran VS Achuthanandan: Oldest campaigners in poll fight

CHENNAI/THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: You could call them the Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid of Indian politics. Between DMK patriarch M Karunanidhi, 89, and CPM leader V S Achuthanandan, 90, they have broken virtually every electoral record one can think of.

The year Karunanidhi entered the ring, his contemporaries included Feroze Gandhi, Acharya Kripalani and S A Dange. He started out contesting the 1957 Madras legislative assembly polls while they were all contenders for Lok Sabha seats. Since then, he has campaigned in 14 parliamentary elections, been elected an MLA to 13 assemblies, and is now embarking on a whistle-stop tour of 20 constituencies across Tamil Nadu, beginning on April 5 from Coimbatore.

Although he's in a wheelchair, the DMK chief loves to soak in the local colour and exchange banter with the rank and file. "He has an amazing memory of towns and cities with several campaigns to his credit. He calls out to local functionaries by name during campaigns," said long-time associate S Duraimurugan. A DMK old-timer himself, Duraimurugan recalled how Karunanidhi was quick to spot spelling errors on poll banners as his van zipped across the countryside.

Achuthanandan is burning the rubber no less. Persona non-grata for the CPM leadership in Kerala until a week ago, he will now be the star campaigner for the LDF in this edition too. VS, whose first campaign was in 1958, will undertake a tour from March 25 to April 7 this time. "Every day he'll address at least two rallies - one in the morning and the other in the afternoon," said an official in his office.

VS, who turned 90 last October, sticks to a frugal vegetarian diet he has followed for years. "He also religiously follows a daily morning course of yoga and walking," said a family member.

Kalaignar, as Karunanidhi is referred to by partymen, also diligently sticks to a daily regimen - wakes up at 5am and after a medical check-up, sets to work, writing for party organ 'Murasoli' and then attending to party affairs before winding up at midnight. Physiotherapy, yoga and a diet of vegetarian food (occasionally fish curry), fresh juice, fruit and an evening snack make up the rest.